p l p n e w s

Directors First!

Merry Christmas to all our Members!

I can’t believe that we are almost at Christmas! We have had a successful first term at PLP. The children have settled well in to their classes and are enthusiastically learning with their new teachers. Thanks to our wonderful volunteer teachers, assistants and playgroup leaders, we are running 19 literacy lessons and 8 playgroups, as well as a Mum to Mum group this year. We have some incredibly dedicated volunteers who help us run PLP (not all of whom are visible – many work ‘behind the scenes’) but we couldn’t run our sessions, nor our events without them and I’m sure you will join me in wishing them a very Happy Christmas and New Year as well as a well-earned rest!

As I write this, we are preparing for the PLP Christmas party. We are trying a new approach this year, by holding a Christmas Fayre-style event, with party games, playroom, second hand book and toy stalls to raise and then reinvest some money in PLP. As you know, we are a ‘not for profit’ organisation and as such, when we need to spend money on new equipment and resources (this time, large soft play equipment for playgroup and a significant number of new readers for the literacy classes) we need to raise it somehow! Thank you for all your support with raising money to spend on these important resources, your contributions are very valued!

Finally, a thank you to all the members and volunteers who completed the online survey that we sent out earlier in the term. Helene, who has completed the evaluation of PLP will be presenting her findings at the PLP AGM on 9th January. Feedback is very important to us at PLP, as we are always trying to improve what we deliver to the children and the way we do things. Some of the suggestions and ideas presented in the evaluation report, as a result of feedback, will be seen on the new action plan for PLP in the not-too-distant-future.

I hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas and New year and we look forward to seeing you all in January!

Elizabeth (PLP Director)

IMPORTANT: Update about the Crossroads Church building and a call for HELP!

I am pleased to be able to (finally) give you all a little bit of an update about what is happening to the Church building.The development contract for developing the ‘mixed development zone’ or ZAC as it is known, has been awarded to Altarea Cogedim. Terrinov (a publicly-owned local corporation) that is responsible for pushing the development of the area forward, have been in discussions with representatives of Crossroads Church throughout the summer. There was an offer made to the Church, however, it was inadequate in regard to fulfilling the Church’s needs (in terms of building and facilities), although the location was positive. So, the offer was rejected by the church.Therefore, Crossroads Church received a letter detailing the expropriation of the site in September of this year. All the surrounding businesses have already received their letters of expropriation (before Crossroads received theirs) and a number of the local businesses including the neighbours, have begun an appeals process against the expropriation. Crossroads Church have also launched an appeal (the letter was delivered to the court on Monday 3rd December) and the appeals process is likely to take somewhere between 18 months and two years.The church is keen to find solutions, and negotiations and talks are ongoing with Terrinov about the future of the building. The church, in order of preference:

Would like to stay exactly where they are!

Would like to move to a specially built building with similar facilities in a similarly convenient location that will allow a smooth transition and move, causing minimal disruption to building users.

Would be prepared to buy land and then build a church that fulfils all needs and requirements.

The church has expressed that they are open to solutions, in discussions with Terrinov, however, they are working hard to achieve outcomes that are fair for the church and will not leave them without the facilities that they need (which include the needs of PLP).I am pleased to report that Crossroads Church are very keen to maintain their relations with PLP and are very mindful of our long-standing friendship and relationship with PLP and as the largest user of the building, our needs are very much being considered amongst all discussions.To that end, the Church are launching a PR campaign to raise awareness of the Church within the local area of Ferney Voltaire and to raise its profile within the community. After some basic research conducted by the church, it appears that the local community are not aware of all of the activities and community-based projects that the Church is involved with. As part of the appeals process, they are keen to make local residents more aware of the value of the church to the community to add weight to the appeal. Crossroads are asking for help from PLP! If you have experience in marketing (particularly in online marketing and PR, but also more traditional PR and marketing) the church is keen to use your skills! If you think that you could help, please contact Elizabeth on director@plpgeneva.org and I will liaise with Louise Cray, who works very closely with the Church Elders and the Building Committee to put you all in touch. YOUR HELP IS VITAL!!

by Elizabeth (PLP Director)

UPCOMING PLP EVENTS

December 22 to January 6Christmas Break

January 16, 8-10pmAGM

Christmas Party on December 8th

Long awaited Christmas Party was such a success! (I am sure you share my opinion! - editor's note :)

There were party games, crafts and a play area for the children. We were singing carols and shared a savoury buffet and drinks. Santa was also there in his grotto where he met the children with a surprise!

Thank you to all volunteers! It was a wonderful evening full of joy and magic!

PLP CHRISTMAS PHOTOS

Please do not forget to order your lovely portraits with Santa! All collected money will be donated!

MEET THE BOARD

I would like to continue introducing PLP board members! This time – please meet our Literacy Coordinator!

about winter and secret talents:

"I really like the snow especially when it is fresh and nothing has been touched ( by cars, pedestrians or what so ever). In winter I like to ski, bake cookies and cupcakes with my kids and read thriller books! My favourite wintertime dish is an oven made confit de canard with meshed potatoes and a variety of mushrooms with fresh green beans.

I have no secret talents but I did paragliding for my 40th birthday a few years ago and it was great! Also dog-sledding in Lapland with my 2 girls, I controlled the dogs in front of the sled and we did a great tour in the snow."

Thank you Reni!

Reni Eering: PLP Literacy Coordinator

about PLP:

"Hello everybody,

My name is Reni Eering, I joined PLP in April as an assistant of Rachel but she left in September and now I am fulfilling her role as a Literacy Coordinator. I have a lot of experience in recruitment and HR and I am really looking forward to use my experience in this new role.

Just a little bit about me, I am Dutch and I live in Collonges sous Saleve with my husband and 3 children, 10 years old twin girls and a 12 years old boy. We are living in France for 4 years now. My kids go to a local school where they speak and learn French, at home we speak Dutch. They also have English lessons on Wednesday.

I recently started a Bachelor study, translator/ interpreter French/ Dutch. So besides working at PLP, taking care of the children, I am also studying.

So far a little bit about me, I think we will meet in the next few months and I am really looking forward to that!"

MEET OUR VOLUNTEERS

This year I’m having a change of scene and running the library for the Wednesday 12.45 slot, along with Lea. Its great fun but incredibly busy! Some weeks we barely have chance to exchange a word, but it’s lovely to see the children choosing their books each week- there’s a good selection.

PLP has really helped- and is still helping- my girls to read in English. They are all 3 in the Swiss system but now able to read the same books in English as in French. And more than that, PLP has given them chance to experience being part of an English speaking learning experience too.

Sarah Maunder: Long Term Friendship

Please meet one of our volunteers - Sara Maunder! Sarah has been a PLP member and a volunteer for almost ten years!

about PLP:

"I started out at PLP when my eldest- who’s now 13!!- was in the 3-4 years group. Then, when she started in Pre-Lit and Lit 1 I decided to volunteer, more as I wanted to understand a bit more about how children learnt to read so I could help her at home. In fact it was really interesting watching all the children getting to grips with phonics, and great for me to know how to help them with the blended letters, magic “e”, or long vowels. I’d never learnt them before, in fact I can’t remember how I learnt to read at school, it was a while ago!!!

about winter & secret talents:

There are loads of great things about winter here, not least because there actually is a winter, with proper snow and ice (I’m from London originally, so it’s still a novelty even after being here years!)

To name a few things - I love watching the snow line get lower down the mountains, as I know that snow is on the way. I also love the huge star which decorates the top of la dole mountain (behind Nyon) – every Christmas - you can see it from our house.. What else..,probably the fondue hut at basse ruche, near St Cergue. It’s really cosy with a huge fire and great fondue and wine, just the thing on a really snowy day!!

My absolute favourite children’s book to read in winter is the Tomten. Its about a little gnomey kind of person who watches over a farm and the family who live there each night, set in Sweden or somewhere very snowy. I love the illustrations, either very snowy or cosy inside the farm! I have read it with each of the girls as they’ve grown up, it’s the book I always pick out to read on winter nights!!

In winter I make a lot of soup, one of my favourites this year is roasted veg with honey and garlic. I roast carrots, squash, red peppers and onions. Then when nearly done I add a squirt of honey and back in oven for few minutes. Remove from oven. Then fry garlic and ginger in a pan and after a few minutes add the roast vegetables and a good veg stock. Bring to the boil then mesh. Delicious!

Once had a job selling doughnuts on a beach in the south of France one summer, went down there with a friend and ended up with that as a summer job. And I’ve got a degree in Russian, which at least sometimes provides interesting dinner party conversation, although my Russian is very rusty these days I’m afraid!

Mary Ahern: a True Enthusiast

Please meet Mary! She is a very interesting person, who adores children!

"I describe myself as a "young retiree" full of energy and enthusiasm for living life to the full and with time to invest in others. Like a lot of decisions, the idea to help out with PLP came by a chance conversation. I was already interested in interacting more with young children, not having any of my own, and my background in psychology made me a natural candidate to observe "what makes people tick", in this case the fertile ground of young minds. I have not been disappointed! Privileged to be placed as assistant to the director, my Wednesday lunchtimes have transformed into a marvelous window of opportunity, observing and helping out with Lit 3, a class consisting of 6 adorable boys. I sometimes think this is like trying to ask six puppies to sit still, quite impossible of course, as their young minds get to grips with the tasks and challenges set before them, but their energy and enthusiasm is contagious and I just love being there!

When not enthralled by these six little individuals I spend my time reading, cycling, attending theatre, book clubs, playing bridge, doing prison visits and singing in a Gospel choir as well as attending a Bible Study course for women. I am also a keen member of GEDS and have acted in many of their plays, and this year's achievement was a 1500 kilometre cycle ride across France, from the Channel to the Mediterranean (admittedly on an Electric bike, I am no amazon)."

Thank you Mary!

Building Self-Esteem In Children

Please let me introduce Sam Touchaise! She specializes in the use of positive affirmations to help children (and adults) overcome negative thinking and to take on life's every day situations with confidence and resilience.

About Sam

I’m a mum to two boys (aged 6 years and 2 years) and I have been living in Switzerland with my husband and sons since 2014. It was when my older son started school that I noticed him struggling with self-esteem and I researched ways to help him. I learned about the importance of positive self-talk and I’ve spent the last two years learning about neuroplasticity and neural programming. I then realised how useful it would be for adults too (including myself) and this led to the creation of a series of tools to help build resilience and self-esteem in children and adults alike. (www.wellbeingseries.com)

About Her Method

One of the tools is an app for children (with a separate section for teens) that uses a total of 120 positive affirmation tracks and a relaxation track to help children and teens build resilience and to create a positive self-view. This is so important in the early years and has been proven to stave off depression in later years. We are seeing so many self-esteem related issues in teenagers these days that it is crucial to help the younger generation to get out of this negative cycle, and affirmations are a really simple yet powerful way to do this. The app is available on the App Store and Google Play and we have had great feedback! One mother reached out with her story about her son (10 years old) who uses the relaxation track to fall asleep every night. The track lasts for 5 minutes and she says he is always asleep within 2 minutes as it allows him to completely relax and switch off. Another parent said that her daughter had been having issues with bullies at school and used one of the affirmation tracks to help her manage the situation.

I also wrote a book with my 6-year-old as I was looking for a story that would incorporate positive affirmations in an adventure setting but couldn’t find anything. It’s my words but my son’s imagination that brought the story to life and I found a wonderful illustrator to do the drawings. The result is Cai Learns to be Brave which is an adventure picture book for 3 to 7-year olds, but older kids enjoy it too. Again, we have had great feedback from parents about their children using the ‘magic’ words in the book to help them get through difficult situations, and it is great for children who are fine in the self-esteem department but are just looking for a good story.For example, my son had a swimming accident when he was 3 and he has been terrified of putting his head under water ever since. This summer, he used the magic words (‘I am brave, I am strong, I can do this’) and taught himself to swim!! It was such an incredible feat and he did it all by himself!

Tips For Building Self-Esteem In Children

Children spend the first six years absorbing everything from their environment before their brain’s neural-programming develops more permanently. These first years of life are so crucial for building a strong self-belief system and are when a child will build a view of themselves and their abilities.

The good news is that the brain is very malleable and with the use of the right tools, can easily be adjusted and new neural pathways (beliefs) can be set.

My tips for helping build positive self-esteem in children would be:Listen to your child and pay attention to the words they use when describing themselves. If you are not sure, or if it is something they don’t talk about often, you can ask the following questions:

What do you think you are really good at?

What are you not so good at?

What do you think your teacher thinks of you?

What do you think your friends think of you?

Do you think you make friends easily?

Do you like yourself?

Then you can use their answers to see if there are any areas that need help.

When reprimanding a child, try to talk about their behaviour as being naughty, and not the child themselves. Children take a lot to heart, and talking about their behaviour and not them as a person, not only empowers the child to feel they can change their behaviour but prevents them from hearing that they are a bad person.

Offer appropriate praise when it is warranted, because the child will know it is genuine and this will contribute to healthy self-esteem.

Every child is unique so it is best to focus on their unique strengths rather than make comparisons with their siblings or other children

Spend quality time with your child. This is an important one and something that is often misunderstood. Quality time that is short but where the child receives the parent’s full attention is better than time where the parent is with the child in the same room but perhaps distracted by their phone. Pack phones away and give your child your undivided attention, even if it’s only for 20 minutes. That is the best way to build their self-esteem as it shows them that they are valued and important.

WHAT TO READ

Here are some ideas what to read with your kids this winter and especially during two winter school breaks! I have chosen some of our favourite books about winter adventures, Christmas and New Year!

These are the books me and my kids (8, 5, 10 months) already read and love and those which we would like to read in the nearest future.

Dream Snow by Eric Carle

For the young and older kids – a real magic book! It's December 24th, and the old farmer settles down for a winter's nap, wondering how Christmas can come when there is no snow! In his dream he imagines a snowstorm covering him and his animals—named One, Two, Three, Four and Five —in a snowy blanket. But when the farmer awakens, he finds that it has really snowed outside, and now he remembers something! Putting on his red suit, he goes outside and places gifts under the tree for his animals, bringing holiday cheer to all. It has a magic button at the end of the book and when you push it – magic comes! We pushed is so many times that our battery got empty!

Stick Man by Julia Donaldson

The story starts in summer, but finds its happy end in winter on Christmas Eve!

Stick Man lives in the family tree with his Stick Lady Love and their stick children three. But one day, Stick Man is carried off by a mischievous dog who wants to play fetch! Things go from bad to worse as Stick Man is carried farther and farther away from home. Lonely and lost, Stick Man wants nothing more than to be home with his family for Christmas. And when he helps Santa Claus out of a bind, he finds the perfect ticket home!

The Tomten by Astrid Lindgren

A lovely Swedish book Sarah was talking about in the previous article is absolutely worth mentioning!This classic story of the Tomten’s nocturnal visits to all of the residents of wintry farm has been reminding children of the promise of spring for decades.

Astrid the Unstoppable by Maria Parr

For a little bit older kids (6+) another great Scandinavian book. But a modern one!At nine years old, free-range Astrid Glimmerdal has the whole wide world (or at least her tiny Norwegian town) “in front of her skis.” As the only child around, the small songstress (“It is important to sing when you’re skiing”) has to get creative about finding friends—her best friend is her 74-year-old godfather, Gunnvald!

Great book if you are planning a ski vacation and also if you are not!

Ice Sea Pirates by Frida Nilsson

And the last book I would highly recommend for the children who are facing their teenage years is also a Scandinavian one ( Because I just cannot stop! And they do write great winter books!).

Ten-year-old Siri and her little sister Miki live with their elderly father in an Arctic archipelago. One day, while they are out gathering snowberries, Miki is abducted by Captain Whitehead. Everyone knows the story about Captain Whitehead, a pirate with hair white as snow and heart as empty as an ice cave. All he wants is children, the smaller the better. They say Whitehead has a diamond mine, a great chasm in the earth. To be taken to that mine is the worst thing that can happen to a child.

This is a serious but still fairytale-like book. Sometimes sad, sometimes scary, but so exciting!

by Maryia Ramanava

Happy New Year!

Hello New Editor

Hello everyone! My name is Maryia Ramanava and I am your new newsletter editor. We are trying out a new digital version of a PLP Newsletter and we hope you will enjoy it as much as you did the paper version!

In this issue we are introducing some of our board members, give you some ideas what to read and what to do with your kids this autumn, introduce PLP upcoming events, publish an artistic article from PLP featured teacher and a spooky article form PLP student and discuss some other great topics to nurture your inspiration.*

So let us dive in!

* Please note that I am a Russian native speaker and I have a degree in philosophy - so I do like long sentences. Sorry!

UPCOMING PLP EVENTS

October 14PLP Nature Day

November 15Mum To Mum Playgroup

TBAPLP CHRISTMAS PARTY

HOORAY! NATURE DAY!"the muddier the better"

When: Sunday October 14 from 10h00 to 12h00Where: at the Etang de Cessy

Please join us for a morning of outdoor fun on Sunday 14th October from 10am - 12pm at the Etang de Cessy. We prepared so many interesting activities for you and your little ones!

We will have treasure hunts for children and adults from 10h30 to 11h45 and we will have a prize ceremony afterwords!

We will do arts & crafts with watercolour and natural colouring.

We will do sculptures with nature finds and salt dough.

We will try out some funny collages with nature objects we can find!

There will be an invited nature expert Robert Klein who is a professional nature guide and a founder of "Into the Nature". He will help us explore what lives and grows near the Etang de Cessy.

And of course we will have a huge camp fire to toast marshmallows and we will have crispy apples to munch on.

Sounds amazing, right?

Please come and join us!

How do I get there?

The Etang de Cessy is on the Chemin du Marais off the Route de Gex between Sauvergny and Cessy.There is parking on site.

Bear in mind, however, that there are not any toilets at the venue(unless you really want to get back to nature.....)

Can I help?

Yes please!

We need 11 volunteers to set up and run the activities.

We would also love some donations of cakes, biscuits and sweets to go with the hot drink stand.All proceeds will go towards Nature Day and other PLP events.

MEET THE BOARD

I would like to start introducing PLP board members, so next time you get a notification that a great party coming soon, that your child was successfully enrolled in a playgroup or maybe even that you have some overdue fees – you know what charming people were sending this out!

HAYLEY COSTA: PLP PLAYGROUP COORDINATOR

Hayley is our fantastic playgroup coordinator and she has two wonderful daughters, who are going to PLP.

about PLP:

"What I really enjoy about PLP is the sense of a community. I have met many amazing families through PLP that I might not otherwise have met.

My daughters have also formed very close friendships. My eldest has just started the literacy programme and it’s already proven to be a big hit for her thanks to the dedication of the volunteers involved.

I also find it convenient to have a place where both my children can attend at the same time.

I volunteered as I enjoy working with children and wanted to support PLP."

about autumn:

“I enjoy taking nature walks with my family, we love to collect "treasures" on our walks like leaves, conkers and pine cones. When we get home we make things with these treasures such as a centre piece for our dining table, or a sculpture with the help of salt dough. The options are endless with Autumn crafts and activities so we have a lot of fun being creative together. Not forgetting the traditional pumpkin carving.

My favourite memories of Autumn are of the traditional UK celebration of guy Fawkes night. It was a chance to be with our community and celebrate with toffee apples, bonfires, sparklers and fireworks, which everyone chants oohs and arhs as they go up. It was great to be out "late" in the dark wearing our welly boots on muddy fields and being with our neighbours, freinds and family.”

Thank you Hayley!

LIZA BARTLEY: PLP TREASURER

Liza is our new treasurer and a mother of trilingual kids!

about PLP:

"Hello, my name is Liza Bartley and I’m a treasurer of PLP. I’m originally Czech , my husband is N.Irish and our two children were born in Switzerland. As a trilingual family, it’s quite challenging to keep up all three languages on the same level and so PLP is a great way to improve their reading and writing in English.

My daughter Elsa is currently in Lit 2 , she enjoys it very much and we are thrilled to see her progress every week. I’ve become a treasurer this year and it feels great to be part of the amazing team as I truly believe in this lovely quote: “Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much” -Helen Keller."

about autumn:

“I love the beautiful colours of autumn. The crunchy leaves, the pumpkins, the conkers just to name a few. Every year we build a kite and fly it on top of Saleve, children adore it!”

Thank you Liza!

MUM TO MUM PLAYGROUP & BABY MASSAGE

The PLP mother to mother group provides a welcoming space for expectant mums and new parents to meet up to share their experiences and advice. Despite of the name fathers are welcome too! Please enrol here!

Besides coffee, tea, good chat and sweet babies this group also features guest speakers such as lactation or baby massage specialists.

Today I would like to introduce to you Rima, a certified infant massage instructor. She is running Rima's Baby Massage and is a welcomed guest at PLP. Last year she was hosting a 5 weeks massage course at PLP and we hope to continue this wonderful collaboration this year as well!

Rima about her passion:"It was a destiny when my personal and professional worlds collided to channel my whole being into this heart centered work as an infant massage instructor. As a pediatric physical therapist, mom of two children, and following the travels of my husband’s global health work, I breathe the challenges and rewards of parenting in a forever changing world.

Moms and dads need to find confidence in their parenting skills, give love unconditionally, exude endless amounts of energy, spread compassion, and be the best role models possible to raise grounded loving human beings. As parents, we share this common goal.

The ethos of the massage program developed by Vimala McClure, the founder of the International Association of Infant Massage (IAIM) gives us the tools to reach that goal. By using nurturing touch to establish parent and baby bond, connecting on all physical and sensory levels during that special one on one massage time allows parents to continuously develop their unique relationship with their child. And within a group baby massage class, parents create new friendships and support networks that make tackling daily challenges of parenting less daunting. So the benefits of learning and establishing this massage routine has life-long benefits to babies, parents, families, and society as a whole as the course facilitates love and respect between baby and parent.

So I feel privileged to be a certified infant massage instructor with the IAIM. I love teaching the massage routine, discussing parent topics & sharing stories, and supporting the unique bonding process for each parent baby duo. I welcome all parents and babies to my courses in a judgement free setting where we strive for loving, healthy, and secure relationships. Supporting and connecting with families, especially in an international, unfamiliar environment is where my passion lies and continues to grow."

With Rima you can learn fun and easy massage routines to soothe and bond with your baby so finaly all family members can relax and sleep better!

PLP Featured TeacherNina Binnington - Art, Mirrors and Museums

I am happy to introduce a wonderful mirrors artist Nina Binnigton (she creates mirrors!), who joined the PLP team last year and is teaching Lit 1 on Wednesday afternoons. Nina also teaches art to kids from age 3 to 16 on Saturdays in Geneva and makes exciting museums tours for kids on Sundays.

She is my good friend and a fantastic cook as well (these two things are not really connected but just a happy coincidence!).

Nina has two kids (9 and 17) and a dog and she has travelled the world with her family for many years. I kindly asked her to say some words about her wonderful museums tours for kids. My oldest son (8) asks me every week-end if he can go to museum with Nina!

“Dear parents, Having been born in Leningrad, USSR, where boredom was a prominent feature of existence at the time, I learned to do a couple of things.:

Contemplating the world around me and finding beauty and entertainment;

Life is nothing without artistic expression;

There are very few things more enchanting than words stringed together in a form if a language, be it written or spoken.

In a nutshell: I offer to take your kids on an adventure of discovering the magic of life through going to Museums.”

If you would like to join Nina on her next museum adventure you can contact her directly

via phone (+33 771823450)or e-mail: mirrnina@gmail.com

See you in a Museum!

FEATURED CLASS& STUDENT ARTICLE: Lit 5 & 6

Can adjectives be fun? They do at PLP! This was a hilarious lesson on adjectives and all the children were given different hats and capes, then the other classmates were asked to describe then. It was a great, fun and worthwhile class.

And while you have fun you develop great writing and reading skills!

This spooky article was written by PLP student Caelan Osmon.Beware the aliens arrive!

CHANCY NEWS

The Aliens Arrive

Articles Written By Caelan Osmon

Aliens Do ExistThey’ve been spotted.They are Green and Slimy and they have arrived in Switzerland. The Police and Army have been called in to talk to them.

The question isARE THEY NICE OR MEAN?

Do Not Go Outside Or You Might Turn Green

We’ve been told they have come from Planet Mars. They leave a trail of green glump. Whatever you do, don’t touch it. It may turn you green and slimy. They have high-pitched squeaks, which hurt your ears. You’re advised to wear earphones. If you see or hear anything suspicious please call 111!

Save the Date!UFO Club 12-12-18 Interested in UFO spotting? Come and join usAlien Foods5-1-19Alien Food tasting session. If you like greens you’ll love this.Aliens Sounds12-1-19Learn to speak and squeak Alien talk. Special classes start in the New Year

WHAT TO READ

At PLP we read a lot and I decided to give you some ideas what to read with your kids this autumn! I have chosen some of our favourite books about autumn life in the woods and of course some spooky books to start getting into Halloween mood!

These are the books me and my kids (8, 4, 8 months) already read and love and those which we would like to read in the nearest future.

Bear Has a Story to Tell

by Philip C. Stead

“Bear Has a Story to Tell” is an absolutely beautiful book recommended for readers from 0 to 99+! The little ones will learn about different animals and their autumn and winter habits, the bigger kids will have their imagination boosted due to the open end of the story and everyone will enjoy amazing illustrations!

The Squirrels Who Squabbled

by Rachel Bright

Rachel Bright is one of the authors who are worth following! And we really like her book about squirrels! Many interesting information about autumn life in the woods, bright autumn colours, lots of dangerous situations (great for boys!) and a lovely happy end!

Spinderella

by Julia Donaldson

A lovely make over of the traditional fairy tale with an unexpected football twist! Spinderella the spider has a passion for football! She tries to play a match with her brothers and sisters but she doesn’t know how many spiders should be on each team. Even worse, she can’t count the goals! Luckily for Spinderella, her Hairy Godmother has a plan! The book is not spooky at all but about spiders! Great read before Halloween for little ones who are afraid to be afraid!

Coraline

by Neil Gaiman

And a brilliant really spooky story for older kids! One of my favourite spooky stories ever! When Coraline steps through a door to find another house strangely similar to her own (only better), things seem marvelous. But there's another mother there, and another father, and they want her to stay and be their little girl. They want to change her and never let her go. Boo!

WHAT TO DO

Why Not Quilt?

In autumn when the weather is not always great it is nice to discover some new activities you can do at home! Please meet Elita Sharpe a professional quilter and teacher of quilting who kindly shared with us tips how you can try out this creative activity with your kids. I feel really motivated to try it out with my boys (age 8 and 4)!Elita:

"Here are some tips that I think would be helpful for quilting with kids. The photo is from my daughter's 5th birthday. She's the cheeky monkey second from the left. She asked to learn to sew and quilt with some of her school friends. We started at 9am, started with a simple hand-sewing project to make a felt pincushion, had a break about 10h30, lunch and playtime for about 90 minutes and then made a doll quilt in the afternoon using the sewing machine. They were really adorable and did very well, especially considering that we did it for the better part of the day.While we only had girls at this party, boys are just as welcome because creativity doesn't have a gender!"

Please follow these tips for a successful quilting experience with your kids!

1)Start small.A doll quilt is the perfect size to keep his/her attention and complete a project quickly without it taking too terribly long.

2)Use a charm pack or pre-cut fabrics.As charm packs are already cut into 5" squares and often coordinated fabrics, this saves so much time and avoids having a small child use a rotary cutter. I think their hands (and attention spans!) are too small to accurately or safely cut fabric. If the cut is off or lopsided or too big or too small, the whole quilt is going to be difficult. The child can still mix and match the colours in a way that pleases them.

3)Start simple.We started with a simple line to follow with the hand-stitches and then later with the machine. The girls only used the machine for a couple of seams but that was plenty. If your child isn't able to reach the pedal or you think they aren't ready for the machine, they can sit on your lap and push the fabric through while you control the pedal. Too many moving parts might overwhelm them and that won't be fun.

4)Go slow.I encouraged the kids to take their time. What may have seemed painfully slow to me was just right for them. Remember that if you've been sewing a while, it seems easy to you but it's a lot of new moving parts to a small person. Slow down. There's no need to rush the process.

5)Be patient.Kid's attention spans are short, hence the reason they did 4-patch mini-quilts. When my daughter wanted to make something larger, our goal became to sew one or two rows (5 squares) at a sitting. It was usually 5 minutes or less, which was enough for her. It drove me a little crazy, but I reminded myself it's about the process, not the speed.

6)Forget trying to make anything perfect and don't point out sloppy work unless it's going to ruin the quilt.Certainly show them good form and good habits but there's no need to get hung up on it. Help them accept that it doesn't have to be perfect to be loved. These first quilts are very human with lots of spots that show their learning process. We finished each mini-quilt using the envelope method so no binding needed, also helpful for their first time.

7)Take pictures.Document the process. If your child grows up to be a quilter (or even if they don't!), these pictures will be amazing to have. If you're like me, the finished quilt will bring tears to your eyes and you'll appreciate the moments you took to document those tiny hands sewing at your machine.

Thank you Elita!

Elita has 20+ years of experience quilting and teaching various techniques. As a professional longarm quilter, she usesher industrial longarm machine, made by APQS (American Patchwork Quilting Systems) to finish quilt tops for others and she is the Swiss Rep for APQS as well.

Her on-line shop supplies a variety of quilting notions such as Quilters Dream Batting. rotary cutters, mats & Aurifil threads. Other services include sewing machine repair and commission projects such as memory quilts made from children's clothing.

Semi-annually, she hosts Patchwork in the Peaks. Peaks Retreats are four-day long weekends in the French Alps (Morzine), hosted in a four-storey chalet with beautiful views for inspiration. Mornings are spent in classes on various techniques and afternoons include individual instruction or time to work on your own personal quilting projects.